Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool doesn't recognize USB device

[TeoFabi]

I'm trying to reinstall Windows 7 by putting my .ISO file on a bootable USB device but can't seem to get the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to locate my USB drive in Step 3. I enter the location of my ISO file in step 1; select USB in step 2, and when I get to step 3 the only device listed is "N:\ (Removable disk)". I have a new 32gb USB stick that I used the Disk Management utility to format as a NFTS drive, then when that didn't work I also went thru the diskpart steps shown in another post on this site. The USB drive does show up as a writeable drive on my system. If I look at it in the Disk Management utility it displays as drive H, "Healthy (Active, Primary Partition)". I tried the refresh button in Step 3 and restarted the utility but still drive N is the only drive that is displayed and I don't currently have anything mapped to drive N. Any help is appreciated; thank you.

 

[gregrocker]

Try using How To Use UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always works when the others don't.

Use the format button first.

You can keep the stick bootable by leaving the seven folders alone in the drive, but still add other files as you wish making it dual-purposed.

 

[o3devildog]

I'm having a similar issue. I'm trying to create a USB boot disk on a laptop (win 7 pro 32bit) for my desktop (win 7 pro 64bit). I've downloaded the bootsec.exe but I'm getting the same issue when I get to step 3. The Tool doesn't recognize my 8GB usb stick.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you follow these exact steps given here to add bootsect for 64 bit?

WHEN CREATING A BOOTABLE USB DEVICE,I AM GETTING AN ERROR ABOUT BOOTSECT

To make the USB device bootable, you need to run a tool named bootsect.exe. In some cases, this tool needs to be downloaded from your Microsoft Store account. This may happen if you're trying to create a 64-bit bootable USB device from a 32-bit version of Windows. To download bootsect:

1. Login to your Microsoft Store account to view your purchase history
2. Look for your Windows 7 purchase.
3. Next to Windows 7, there is an "Additional download options" drop-down menu.
4. In the drop-down menu, select "32-bit ISO."
5. Right-click the link, and then save the bootsect.exe file to the location where you installed the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (e.g. C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Apps\Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool).
6. Once the file has been saved, go back to the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to create your bootable USB device.

Try using Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way.

Format the stick FAT 32 first.

 

[o3devildog]

I downloaded the bootsec from digital river but the executable file is in the same folder as the tool. I've formatted the stick as FAT32.